Open Futures filmit
filmit is a simple, closed community, video sharing system for schools which helps children document and share ongoing project work by making short films.
It began in 2005 and has been developed in collaboration with Andy Cameron as part of the Helen Hamlyn Trust’s Open Futures initiative which works in Primary schools developing a skills based curriculum with 3 other project strands: growit, cookit and askit.
As primary schools filter out video sharing sites by default it was necessary to develop our own platform rather than use existing platforms. In the first instance this entailed providing each school with an iMac and custom software to upload their movies to the website. In 2008 we launched a cross platform service which allows a much greater number of schools to be involved.
In September 2008 we established filmit India in partnership with Intach. Since then 12 schools in the Delhi area have been creating and sharing films with their partner schools in the UK.
As the Open Futures initiative grows we are continuing to develop filmit as a platform, running workshops, training teachers and working with children to make great short films.